I've been using the Chalk Hog 100 by C.H. Hanson quite extensively over the last few weeks, so far as ditching the straight line laser for this tool. You could be asking what is special about a chalk line.

Well for a start this is more than just a chalk line, it also includes a pencil sharpener which always comes in handy, rapid line winder and the ability to screw in a whole bottle of chalk which saves mess. Naturally you can just pour chalk in and screw in the bung like a standard chalk line, but I've stuck with the ease of bottle.

The line is far superior to the standard string types. Being a braided nylon cord it seems to trap the chalk inside and drops very little when being spooled out and leaves a nice visible line when snapped. As I've already mentioned this is a braided cord so it really does snap back strongly, unlike string which after a while refuses to do much of anything useful.

The winder is very fast and retrieves the line with little effort, on the side of the winding handle is a free spooling button. This allows you to pull the line out with the handle leaving it's stop position or spinning around madly in the palm of your hand.

So far I've used the Chalk Hog on a variety of substrates with great results. It made marking out floors for Woodtech tiles from Porcelanosa a breese with the lines being highly visible. Lines where equally as visible on skimmed plaster and ply wood and made lining up with existing tile courses very easy.

The only thing really to watch for when loaded with a bottle of chalk, is to ensure that the chalk housing is not too full of chalk. Otherwise the line can't be wound back in as it's crammed with chalk. A quick shake rectifies this problem, just remember to shake it to re-chalk the line rather than overfill.

Review by Dave M. Carr
[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk
[w] www.tiling.davemcarr.co.uk
Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham

Tags: chalk hog, reviews, setting out